The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-21
PATRONS OF HussANDRY.
Fourteenth Annual Session OF the
Maine State Grange.
Action Of Respect to the Memory OF
the Late Governor.
Worthy Master RobIe's Review Of
the Years Work.
Especial to the Press. ]

Grange opened its annual sessions at Coburn
Hall today, with very large attendance.
Worthy Master Robie being absent, the fol-
lowing letter was read by G. M. Twitchell,
on whose motion an adjournment was made
to 2.3O p. M.
Brothers and Sisters.
The recent death Of His Exeellency, the late
Joseph X. Bodwell, Chief Executive of the State,
has been source OF general and profound sorrow
and the warmest sympathy Is extended TO his
widow, children and family, In this hour Of deep
affeton. Ihe people everywhere realize the
fact and testify to the great loss which religion,
o G s0Sa sae bave ane
by this sudden bereavement. Gov. BodwelPs
character has exemplified Christian faith, purity,
honesty broad manhood. and the highest busi-
ness qualifications. He was man OF constant
toll, farmer and laborer.
We must look to the same Divine Power which
aficts US and doeth all things well for future sup
port and compensation. On this funeral day
there should be feeling Of sadness. and respect
tai remains are carried by devoted people which
he loved so well TO their fast resting place. recog
Hon. s. Marble tSst tSege be
recess today from IL O'Clock a. M, until
eelock M during ats the PubRe Roo funeral
Thing, Rufus Prince, s. B. Gunnison, ]. B. Ham
ed committee to represent the Maine State
Grange at the funeral services; that b. A. Burr,
$. L. Boardman, o. J; Hancock, Sisters J. Scott,
tuted committee to prepare and present 10 the
organization some time during its session, appro-
prlate resolutions on the death Of our friend and
Governor, the late Joseph Il. Bodwell
FREDERICK RoBIE,
Master of State Grange.
At 2.30p. m. the business of the afternoon
commenced. Reports of officers were re-
ceived and appointments of various COM
mittees made. The election Of officers for
the ensuing two years will occur tomorrow.
The attendance is large. State Master Robie
delivered his annual address this evening to
large audience OF patrons and citizens.
The following is an abstract
Worthy Master Robie's Address.
The order In the nation during the past year
has made substantial gains In many of our States.
We have organized 1877 new Oranges, and added
to our number many thousand new members.
Rhode Island for the first time is represented in
our National Grange work The order has been
tive and efficient work going on In thrty-three
States which gives us the prestige and useful
ness of a national organization of farmers. The
financial condition OF the National Grange is ex-
cellent, having at the present time cash surplus
Of $4,000 The several official reports of the
0ihcers OF the state Grange, my personal corre-
spondence with Patrons, and an extensive per-
sonal inspection of the Oranges OF our State JUS
tify me in congratulating you that the order was
never in so large and prosperous a condition as at
the present period.
have recently personally examined the numer-
ical strength of our order in each and all of the
several States of this nation. as they appear upon
the books Of the National Secretary, and find
that the good State of Maine, which You represent
still continues to be the banner State in point OF
numbers; 1t Is also conceded that our State has
no superior In loyalty and efficiency fer the best
interests of our common calling IL has been
source Of personal pride that our order has con-
stantly increased during my term of administra-
nearly every state outside Of New England there
has been halt, or falling off OF membership,
while in Maine there are many bright spots, and
SubordfnafQ q hQarfflv a work in
creasing their numbers and efficiency and exert
ing widespread influence.
The Worthy Master gave an Opit0me OF the do
lngs Of the National Grange and then spoke of
she importance % 81 the Of ne ms
Patrons, he spoke as follows:
DEMANDS OF THE PATRONS.
The Patrons of the United States demand such
liberal appropriation OF the public funds and
projection as will best advance the interests of
agriculture, which feeds and clothes the nation,
and Is the handspring which sets in motion and
sustains all other Industrial andlcommercial pur-
suits. We demand that our vast herds OF cattle
shall be protected from the ravages of contagious
diseases by prompt agencies, and the enforcement
of wise and suitable laws at public expense. We
demand that our National and State Agricultural
and Experimental Stations, when supported by
the, government, shall be, as far as practicable,
Of Agriculture, and that the agricultural seeds
etc., which distributed among the STATES, shall
be tested and only distributed when found pure
and healthy; and that such seeds shall be distrib-
uted as are particularly adapted TO the soil and
| idl1Iuut W0eft tn6y are 10 De uSeU.
We demand that all information and knowledge
aHectlng agriculture, which Is eliminated and
made positive n at pnellc e expense per shall be 80 far
diciously and generally circulated, and made
available through the printed page at the expense
Bile, in our varied agricultural productions, that
care shall be exercised and information given. so
crops t6e soil latitude sndother Considerations Of
different sections best adapted; therefore, let
the National Department Of Agriculture impart
4s.Esu oxr haUf "A
veop, increase the amount and enhance the profits
Of crops everywhere, and not lose sight OF the
best agricultural claim and merit 70 special pro
ductions of widely separated sections OF our
In view OF the fact that our country represents
every variety of SOIL and all the peculiarities Of
different latitudes under the sun. we demand that
such investigation and experiments shall be made,
and protection given as will extend our agricul-
tural resources so as to give TO the American
farmer practically the ability to raise and sell at
profit every article OF food consumption which Is
now partially or wholly raised in foreign lands.
In other words, may we not practically produce
for our own consumption by proper information
and protection not only all the staple products OF
the nation, but our own sugar, fruits, tropical
productions, ETC., which now come so largely from
other countries, and for which our people pay
vast sums OF money, without a corresponding
We demand that the ''Hatch Bill" in favor of
agricultural experiment stations In each State.
already law, Shall be perfected by Congress-
that our State may receive at least S15 900 each
year from the national government This action
grand measure.
The Worthy Master recapitulated the action Of
the National Grange on important matters. He
spoke as follows ofthe dangers Of consolidated
wealth and their remedy:
DANGERS OF WEALTH.
There are few Indirect methods which may help
TO ease the burdens which are borne by the peo-
pie in consequence of the accumulation Of proper
ty in the hands of few, and there are eonstitu-
toaal and legal ways 70 soanteraet IIs tae metnoqs
cannot have escaped the notice OF the Intelligent
farmer, that:hs property bears an unjust share OF
of Congress and Legislatures, and the
records of our courts show how much time ana
labor are given to tne demands & OF e15poLa
more than to all other interests combined. Per
sonal property, values In stocks, bonds, income
money, merchandise and other like representa-
tves Of value, have escaped just share OF the
burdens of the government. The grand purpose
against the uses and abuses Of special class legis-
lation, and the power Of monop0lies to secure the
passage OF such laws as Will remove the burdens
suit. To this end the Grange was instituted, for
this purpose we are organized.
THE GRANGE AND ITS WORK.
The Worthy Master then spoke Of the dignity Of
agriculture, sketched its progress, outlined the
origin OF the Grange and its history, and then
passed to its organization and workings. The
National Grange In consequence Of its large aecn-
disbursed s54. 1926 among the subordinate Oranges
throughout the Union. II now has permanent
cents into the National treasury by each member
creates fund sufficiently large 10 pay the ex.
penses Of the National session, which often times
reach the sum OF $4,000, and leaves large sur
plus for other expenses. The influence of the
Orange has done more to destroy sectional feeling
and prejudice between the different sections OF
the nation than any other agency.
1t has been aggressive and decided on all those
public questions In which the farmers are inter-
ested. IL has always been active and influential
in favor Of the passage, by Congress, OF the inter
State commerce law, which should secure 70 the
great public, however situated, low rates Of fare
and the same equal justice. II has favored and
pressed TO its final enactment the national oeo-
margarine law in the interests OF honest butter
and the great dairy productions Of the country:
1t has. and continues to advocate the elevation OF
the Commissioner of Agriculture to a seat in the
Cabinet of the President. IL believes In such
tariff for revenue as win give to the farmer pro
lection TO the raw material produced in this coun-
try against foreign importations.
THE MAINE GRANGE.
The Order Of Patrons of Husbandry In the state
of Maine, since its first organization, nearly four.
teen years ago, has passed through period OF
Eight and shadow" but, notwithstanding some
opposition and many reverses, the Grange has
steadily advanced, and today we have larger
number Of active subordinate GOD Oranges,